Blood & Rhetoric

forgotten english word of the day

Writing by Jana on Thursday, 3 of July , 2008 at 4:45 pm

“felo de se”

Anglo-Latin felo, felon, and de se, of himself.

He that deliberately puts an end to his own existence, or commits an unlawful malicious act; the consequences of which is his own death; as if, attempting to kill another, he runs upon his antagonist’s sword; or, shooting at another, the gun bursts and kills himself. The party must be of years of discretion and in its senses; else it is no crime.

Sir William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, 1765-69

Category: Forgotten English Word of the Day

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My name is pronounced YAH-NAH. That's pretty much all you need to know.